Syracuse, N.Y. -- It was 25 years ago that the Syracuse University Orangemen authored the second of their school’s two undefeated seasons and finished fourth in the national polls. In a football history that has been in the making since the end of the 19th century, SU's 1987 campaign ranks behind only the Orange's 11-0 national championship run of 1959 in both accomplishment and glory.

In tribute to the wonders of ’87, syracuse.com will provide a near-weekly look at each of SU's 12 games from that year . . . and we’ll do so, in an individual player’s voice, on the silver anniversary of those contests.

And so, with help from Dan Bucey, who was then a sophomore linebacker out of Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio, we revisit the fifth game from the 11-0-1 season of 1987 that was played 25 years ago today . . .

Oct. 3, 1987: Syracuse 24, Missouri 13

SITE: Columbia, Mo. (att: 36,773)

GAME SUMMARY: The Orangemen, with the No. 1-ranked rushing defense in the nation, held the Tigers (who’d entered the game with the fifth-rated rushing offense) to less than half their 330.2-yard average as Ted Gregory registered 11 tackles. Still, it was Bucey, filling in for the injured Derek Ward, who received the game ball after making 11 tackles of his own.

DAN BUCEY: "I'd basically sat out my first two college seasons after knee surgery, so I was always thinking, ‘OK, when I get my chance I’m going to be ready.’ It was an honor for me to be out there with those guys, so I wasn’t going to let them down.

“Derek Ward was a senior and he was the starting linebacker. I was more of a fill-in for him on passing situations. But coming out of the Virginia Tech game, he had a knee sprain or something to that effect. So the coaches made the decision that he was not ready to play, and I was in.

“I didn’t go into that Missouri game thinking I was going to do anything other than my job. When Ted Gregory is taking two guys out on every play and Paul Frase is pushing his guy up the field, it’s a lot easier for the linebackers to flow -- to get outside and not worry about cutbacks and so forth. So I don’t remember any Superman effort by me. I was just where I was supposed to be the whole day.

“One of Missouri’s favorite plays was kind of a freeze option and getting guys outside because of their speed. So, they scraped around the end on this one play and there I was, all by myself . . . and more or less waiting on the ballcarrier to get there because of the reads we’d practiced all week.

“I was there because I knew the inside was taken care of, and I made the tackle for a one- or two-yard loss. Later you could see Coach Mac (Dick MacPherson) and Coach P (Paul Pasqualoni) on the film shaking their fists because they knew what just happened. When you scout it, put it on paper and practice it . . . and it comes together in the game, it’s a great feeling.

“In the locker room after the game, Coach Mac would always give the ball to the captains and they’d choose who would get it. I was just happy that we won and felt good about my play that day. I never -- never -- would have thought that I’d get the game ball.

“And then there was Ted Gregory holding it up and calling my name. I was speechless. I was really, truly speechless. That game ball is actually sitting here in the credenza in the office. The boys have picked most of the letters off it, but it’s still here.”

AN UPDATE: Bucey started three games during the ’87 season, finishing the year with 38 tackles and one fumble recovery. Following his Orange career, he did find his way to the NFL Combine, but a balky knee ended his professional football aspirations. Now 47, Bucey lives with his wife (Katherine) and sons (David and William) in Savannah, Ga., where he works as a wetland environmental consultant. He’s kept his hand in the game by coaching David’s 8-and-under team, the Savannah Dawgs.

(In addition to his columns and "To The Point" observations, Bud Poliquin will begin virtually every morning, seven days per week, with an 8 a.m. offering of some kind or another on the Syracuse University football program. Look for it here on syracuse.com. Poliquin can be reached at bpoliquin@syracuse.com.)